Baja Epic MTB Race

Too Much Fun Promotions was founded in 1986 by Armando Carrasco, the former head promoter for the Baja Department of Tourism. Armando cut his teeth on events such as the Baja 1000 and the Rosarito-Ensenada, a 50-mile bicycle tour, and over the past two decades his company has organized hundreds of events in Baja. Specializing in motocross, mountain bike and beach events, Carrasco has built Too Much Fun into a successful business enterprise; with his experience and government contacts in Mexico, he is Baja’s promotional powerhouse. An accomplished BMX racer in the late 70's, and experienced motocross racer, Carrasco has won 4 Baja State Motocross Championships, raced the Baja 250, 500 and the World famous Baja 1000. He resides in Rosarito Beach with his wife and two children and is a visible and upstanding member of the local business community.

Rob Quinn met Carrasco in 1987, and the two started the "Montaña Grande" Mountain Bike Ride in Rosarito Beach. The first organized mountain bike event in Mexico, later founded the King of the Mountain, NITE RIDE in Tecate. Quinn has a background in radio management and held several positions at the Tijuana-based 91X and XTRA Sports Radio from 1987 to 1999. He later relocated to Denver, Colorado, where he has worked as vice president and general manager of Hispanic radio stations. He started Spectrum Marketing www.spectrum-marketing.com in 2006 and has maintained his contacts in San Diego and Tijuana with his consultation to various media outlets including Borderbillboard www.borderbillboard.com, the most dominant fixture at the border

An avid sportsman, Quinn and his family maintain residences in Denver and Summit County, Colorado. Quinn won the Tijuana to Ensenada road race in 1996 and was category champion at the Winter Park series in 2001. After competing in and finishing 11th (men 40-plus) at La Ruta de los Conquistadores, an epic off-road stage race across Costa Rica in 2003, Quinn realized this was the future of mountain biking: major multi-day stage races that challenge even the most accomplished riders. He returned from Costa Rica and told Carrasco that a Trans-Baja route would be perfect for such an endeavor. With Too Much Fun’s history in the area, Carrasco’s intimate knowledge of the geography, and both of their bike industry contacts and marketing savvy,
the Baja Epic was destined to become a success.

With strong connections to the cycling world, Quinn and Carrasco will draw past, present and future stars to the Baja Epic MTB Race. The event is scheduled November 5-8, 2008. It will start and finish in Rosarito Beach, but will definitely include the Cities of Tecate and Ensenada. The course will highlight Baja’s diverse geography—from beach to high alpine to desert terrain. The race will be capped at 500 riders.

No Kidding

I was just down ther for the Baja 1000 a few months ago. I AM NOT going back for a few years. We had some major problems with the federalies and the crazy ass drivers/roads down there. All the way down to Cabo was bad it never cleared up. And I heard worse stories then i experience from other racers.

I road in the first Montana Grande race in 88 or 89......is was a tough and
rough course as I remember. It is great that they are having events down there
but just like surfing down there the sketch factor has kept me away for a
while now. A sixteen-year old carrying an A-K searching though your car
is not a great feeling......there are a lot of dirt roads that you could end up
ending up at.

My first trip was '83, use to be just the border town cops shaking down the gringos, last trip was early '90's. Loads of bad stuff started happening in the 90's, here's a article I did about my adventures... http://www.baja.org/stories/tauras/index.htm

These guys put on great races and you should do it. Ensenada is far enough away from all the B.S. going on in TJ. If you go in from Tecate and drive south you're fine. Take the toll road and obey the laws. Remember that you are in another country, obey the law and try not to stick out.

So whats the deal? Is the consensus that this race is a great idea but just in very risky part of town? Yay or neigh?

You got it.
I'm not going to post any racist comments but I felt very uncomfortable during my last trip to Baja and I won't go back, which is a shame because they have a lot of outstanding riding country down there.

Hey the Baja Epic is back on for 2010. I know some have issues with going to Mexico but you need to realize that you will be out of the cities and on dirt roads having a great time. That is exactly what I had in 2008. Armando was an excellent host for this challenging event. Check out the details at www.bajaepic.com

Baja Epic

I raced in the first Baja Epic(2008) and it was a blast. Definitely something to think about. I purchased the race pakage that included all travel. He picks you up at a hotel in San Diego takes you and your stuff across the border to the start. You race A to B and he brings your bags for you, you will be with the group the whole time. After the last day, we rented a taxi that took a few of us to the border, or you can wait one more day and he will bring you back. At no time did i feel unsafe or saw any bad situations. Go for it.

I just got done with pre-running the the new Baja Epic course. This course rocks, fast and curvy, you are always turning on the single track. The loop up in Tecate is on a private ranch so there isn't anyone there to bother you. Just ride and enjoy the scenery.

I believe the race will be held in February of 2011. Time to start training.